Oak Island 10-X Dive

Howard Ehrenberg and myself were contacted about the possibility of conducting dives at a site known as the 10X Shaft, on Oak Island, Nova Scotia. After preliminary discussions, Howard and I were convinced we could do the dive, but the question was going to be how? Our first step in preparing for the dives would be to start developing our dive plan. Below is the dive plan we had in hand when we left for Nova Scotia.

The 10X site is a confined space dive, in roughly 200 feet of cold water, which would provide information to our clients, as well as be utilized for the popular television series Curse of Oak Island, on the History Channel. The episodes involving our dives aired in early February, 2016.

Oak Island Shaft Dive v 1.6

Introduction

The purpose of this document is to outline the Diving Operations for the 10X Shaft at Oak Island. The dates for the dive operations are TBD. All details of this dive plan, and any observations or conclusions made while preparing for, or executing the dives are entirely confidential.

Mission Statement

The goals for these dives are to obtain information on a Chamber estimated to be 10’ X 8’ X 10’, at the bottom of the 10X Shaft, in approximately 200 feet of water. As much as is possible, we will make a determination as to whether the Chamber is man-made, or geological, and whether or not there are any man-made artifacts in the chamber. We will conduct two days of diving to accomplish the mission to the best of our abilities.

Priorities

The first and foremost priority is the safety and welfare of the entire team. Every aspect of the diving operation is to be examined in the light of how it impacts crew and diver safety. No activity shall be undertaken which is determined to contain risks which cannot be managed within a reasonable degree of safety.

The second priority is to cause no damage to the site itself. No destructive testing will be conducted without prior approval and thorough analysis.

Known Conditions

Based on previous dives to the site, including limited ROV dives, we will operate under certain basic assumptions, all of which will need to be validated onsite. The purpose of these dives is to learn what is currently unknown. Therefore, all dives will be conducted utilizing constant evaluation and mitigation.

Current information as we understand it is as follows: There is a Main Shaft (caisson) which is roughly 7 foot in diameter, and rises approximately 45 feet above the water. This Main Shaft is steel, and descends to a depth of 185’ total length, with roughly 145 of the Main Shaft filled with water which is estimated to be 40⁰-48⁰ F. There is some expectation of debris in the Main Shaft, some of which be on the bottom, some of which may be mid water or overhead for divers on the bottom. This debris should be evaluated to determine if it needs to be relocated or removed, to prevent it from blocking egress, causing injury to the diver, or snagging the diver’s umbilical.

From the bottom of the Main Shaft, a 27-inch diameter Drill Shaft extends through bedrock vertically downward a distance of 45 feet until it breaks out into the Chamber. This places the bottom of Drill Shaft, which would be the uppermost part of the Chamber, at a depth of approximately 190’. This places the depth of water in the Chamber at approximately 200 feet of water. The Drill Shaft passes through bedrock with the walls of the shaft being solid rock. One prime consideration is loose rock in the Drill Shaft, which could come loose and entrap or wedge the diver.

At some time after the Drill Shaft was made, a second shaft was attempted adjacent to the first shaft. The cutting head of the drill apparently drifted into the 27-inch Drill Shaft, where at some point it seized up. The cutting head, and drill pipe were abandoned in place, and remain in situ. The drill pipe in the Drill Shaft has been described at entering the shaft as “halfway down”, which would make it about 20-25 feet down the Drill Shaft, or at a water depth of roughly 170 feet.

The degree of obstruction in the Drill Shaft from the cutting head is unknown, however we can assume that the 27-inch diameter of the Drill Shaft will be significantly restricted beyond the 27-inches.

The diameter of the drill pipe in the 27-inch Drill Shaft is unknown at this point, but can be assumed to be either 4-inch, or 6-inch. It is possible that the drill pile enters into the Drill Shaft only an inch or two, but it is equally likely the drill pipe bisects the 27-inch Drill Shaft. Should the drill pipe bisect the 27-inch Drill Shaft, it would leave us with a restriction at that point of less than 12 inches. We will plan for this restriction to be the crux of the dive, with the restriction of 12 inches at the drill pipe encroachment.

The Chamber is 10’ x 8’ x 10’ high, according to sonar surveying data. Visibility for both the Main Shaft and the Drill Shaft, has been shown to be extremely poor on the remote video, hence requiring manned presence and tactile skills to evaluate conditions.

Operational Outline

This plan covers two days of diving. The Chamber Diver will utilize surfaced supplied gear, with a demand helmet, hard wire communications, dive gas appropriate to the dive, and a hot water supply. In addition, video will be utilized with a system TBD. The “Chamber Diver” will work with a Support Diver to assist in tending the Chamber Diver’s umbilical as it makes the transition from the Main Shaft to the Drill Shaft. The equipment to be used by the Support Diver is TBD, however he will be in communication with the CD, and topside support.

All critical elements of the dive system will require backups. We will conduct two days of diving.

The first day of diving will consist of one or two dives as necessary. The dives will be conducted in the Main Shaft, to an estimated depth of 150’, and no greater than 170’. The goals for the first day of diving are as follows:

Insure that all equipment is operational.

Provide the crew the opportunity of familiarize themselves with the operation, and fine tune any issues not addressed in this plan.

Identify any and all potential hazards not already known.

Inspect the Main Shaft down to the Drill Shaft, looking for loose debris, and dive umbilical hangs.

Clear any debris from the area around the mouth of the Drill Shaft, and remove and dive umbilical hangs.

Inspect the Drill Shaft with regards to the degree of encroachment of the cutting head into Shaft.

Install Down Line(s) as appropriate.

The second day of diving will consist of one or two dives as necessary. The dives will be conducted to a maximum depth of approximately 210’. The goals for this second day of diving are as follows:

Penetrate down to the Chamber at the bottom of the Drill Shaft.

Document the Chamber as much as time allows, utilizing video and tactile observations relayed to the Dive Supervisor over comms.

Attempt to determine whether the Chamber is a natural formation, or man-made, and whether the Chamber contains any man-made artifacts.

Dive Profiles

This dive plan provides for two days of diving, 4 dives total. The first day’s dives will be utilizing Air on the bottom, and Nitrox 70 for decompression. The second day’s diving will be utilizing Trimix on the bottom and Nitrox 70 for decompression, for the Chamber diver. The first day’s diving will be to prepare the site and to test the operation with regards to equipment and personnel. The second day’s diving will be focused on penetrating the Chamber and collecting information as directed.

Risk Assessment and Preparedness Plan

Standard industry safety practices shall be utilized by all personnel, who are experienced and knowledgeable dive professionals. Any person, at any time, may bring safety concerns to the Dive Supervisor for appropriate action.

The purpose of this section is to identify specific potential underwater risks associated with our operational dive plan, and then determine both what we can do to prevent situations placing personnel at risk, as well as identify a plan to address hazardous situations that occur when our best efforts at prevention have failed. Awareness and preparation for potential risks are the best way to prevent diver injuries. With this knowledge, we will employ constant evaluation and mitigation.

The following Specified Risks are believed to be associated with this operation:

Emergency Surface Gas Supply

In addition to the calculated consumables, an additional supply of 3000 cf of air (in high pressure K bottles) will be on site, for use in any emergency.

Shaft Collapse or Diver Entrapment

There is virtually no risk of entrapment in the Main Shaft. However, it is entirely possible that the walls of the 27” Drill Shaft, or the Overhead in the chamber, contain loose rock. The presence of the diver, or the gas from the divers’ exhalation may cause cave in, collapse, or other dynamic situations which could entrap the diver, or his umbilical. There is virtually no cure for this situation, so the approach to this very serious issue is avoidance. The CD is solely responsible for making sure that identifies any loose rock in the shaft, or in the chamber overhead, and does not venture beyond the limits imposed by loose rock or debris.

Oxygen Toxicity

An OxTox event in the Drill Shaft or Chamber would be a serious situation. To minimize the risk of OxTox, we will utilize 18/40 Trimix, and analyze all gases 2X, virtually eliminating the possibility of OxTox during the bottom phase of the dive. The SD and the CD have extremely low CNS profiles, and the risk is minimal.

In the event of an OxTox event during decompression, the standby diver will coordinate the return of the CD to the surface, and vice versa.

Decompression Sickness

As with any deep planned decompression dive, there is risk of DCS. To minimize this risk, we will run parallel profiles, with the divers utilizing Shearwater dive computers, and the DS running real time profiles utilizing computer planning software of his choice. The most conservative profile will be the determining profile.

Umbilical Entanglement or Entrapment

Both divers will have to be vigilant with umbilical maintenance, which made more difficult by limited visibility. The CD will carry a set of cable cutters. In the unlikely event of the CD umbilical being entrapped where it cannot be freed, the CD will notify the DS and the SD, cut the umbilical with the cable cutters, go on bailout with no comms or SSG, ascend freely according to his decompression schedule, remain on BO gases and communicate to the surface through the SD, utilizing Helmet to Helmet contact communications.

Diver Injury or Illness

Every effort should be made to make sure both divers are fit to dive, prior to entry into the water. Should a diver become injured or ill while in the water, this will turne the dive.

Loss of SS Breathing Gas Emergency

Both divers will at all times be connected to Surface Supplied Gas, controlled by the DS, and to a Bail Out gas supply, controlled by the diver. BOG delivery will be tested and verified, with SSG shut off, prior to the divers descending below the surface for affirmative testing. Should a diver lose SSG, and need to switch to BOG, this will turn the dive.

Loss of How Water Supply

The loss of Hot Water Supply is a serious problem. To minimize the risk of system failure, there will be a single individual dedicated to the HWS, whose only job is to keep the HWS functioning properly. Any issues with the HWS will be immediately reported to the DS, and the dive terminated. Should the CD have to decompress without the benefit of HW, the dive profile will be expended as much as is practical, and the CD will surface and go on 100% oxygen for a time no less than 1 hour. As an additional safety, we will limit bottom times to 25 minutes duration.

Unexpected Event

In the event of any unexpected emergency situation, which is certainly possible when dealing with so many unknowns, the problem is to be identified, accurately commutated to all team members, properly evaluated, and responded to in a crisp and positive manner.

Team Assignments

Dive Supervisor

The Dive Supervisor (DS) will be the responsible person in charge topside. He will be responsible for supervising the Dive Station setup, and demobilization. During dive operations, he will remain in direct hardwire communications with both divers, remain in visual and verbal contact with the Dive Tenders (DT), and remain in verbal communication with the Hot Water Machine Operator (HWMO). In addition, he will coordinate the operation of the crane by the Crane Operator, as necessary.

The DS will be the liaison between the divers and the Project Supervisors, managing information requests between all parties.

The DS will manage the diver’s gas supplies, monitor dive times, coordinate the diver’s decompression schedules, monitor diver depths utilizing the Pneumo, coordinate any gas switches, and collect pertinent information provided by the divers regarding the goals of the dives.

Chamber Diver

Due to the unique nature of the dive, being the expected depths and difficulties in navigating the restriction around the Drill Pipe within the 27-inch Drill Shaft, the Chamber Diver will have to utilize a non-conventional dive equipment setup, while providing adequate backup for contingencies.

The CD will be the sole diver to enter the Chamber, and be solely responsible for addressing any hazards found in the Chamber. The CD will enter the water via the Diver Stage, lowered by the Crane to a depth of 40 feet of water. The CD will be responsible for notifying the DS when the Stage has reached that exact depth. The CD will communicate to the DS any findings from within the Chamber relating to the goals of the dives.

The CD will carry a conventional Bailout cylinder, but in a non-conventional way. The CD’s helmet will have a 3-foot hose connected to the helmet bailout valve, with a locking quick connect on the end. This quick connect will match another quick connect on a 3-foot hose to the bailout cylinder. When connected, this will provide bailout gas on a 6-foot-long hose, enabling the CD to carry the bailout cylinder clipped off to the CD crotch strap, with the bottle nestled between his legs. In this way, the bottle can be moved around to aid in navigation of restrictions by providing the diver with a minimal profile, while at the same time providing continuous bailout support. Once in the Chamber itself, the CD will have the option of side mounting the bailout cylinder, while moving about the Chamber.

Three cylinders of decompression gas will be secured to the inside of the Stage, and left at 40 feet during the bottom phase of the dive. Each deco gas cylinder will be equipped with the same sort of regulator and hose quick connect setup as the bailout cylinder. The deco cylinders will each contain identical gas, each with a SPG, and be properly marked.

This will enable the CD to disconnect the bailout cylinder, and connect to decompression gasses at will during decompression. The CD will be in constant communication with the DS regarding decompression, however the CD will be utilizing a Shearwater Predator Dive Computer, thus enabling him to access decompression data even in the event of comm failure with the surface. The DS will run a parallel decompression profile from the surface, coordinating times, depths, and gases, with the CD.

The DS will have the ability to provide decompression gas to the divers, however only in the event of a plan failure. The plan procedure will be for the CD to enter the Stage at 40 feet, disconnect the bailout, connect to the deco gas, have the DS shut down the SS gas supply to the helmet, make the deco gas live, verify the deco gas supply, notify the DS, and make the gas switch on the Shearwater. By putting the gas switch and decompression information in the hands of the CD, we are already prepared for comm failure. With active comms to the surface, all actions relating to decompression can be validated and vetted by the DS, utilizing the Pneumo and separate decompression profile.

As each stage of decompression is cleared by both the CD with the Shearwater, and the DS by separate means, the DS will coordinate the raising of the dive stage by the Crane operator to the next decompression depth. With the required decompression cleared, the CD will coordinate with the DS, and conduct additional safety decompression as is thought to be prudent.

Support Diver

The Support Diver (SD) will enter the water with the CD on the second day of diving only. The SD will share the Stage with the CD on entry, decompression stops, and exit from the water. The SD is not expected to, or equipped to dive into the 27-inch Drill Shaft, even in the case of emergency.

The SD will provide in water support to the CD, in order to accomplish the goals of the dives. Requests to help in management of the CD umbilical will be made by comms and conventional line pulls as necessary to the SD as well as the surface Diver Tender. The SD will remain in constant contact with both the DS and the CD, via hardwire comms. The SD will utilize a conventional surface supplied dive equipment setup, however he will also utilize a Shearwater dive computer, thus enabling independent decompression in the event of comm failure with the surface. As much as is possible, the SD will avoid extensive decompression.

The SD will enter the water with the CD in the Dive Stage, and trail behind the CD in order to manage both his own umbilical as well as the umbilical of the CD. The SD will exercise his own judgement in how to meet the responsibility of assisting in the management of the CD umbilical, while minimizing his exposure to depth. The SD will report depth changes to the DS in order for the DS to assist in managing the decompression profile for the SD.

The SD will dive on Air for both bottom gas and decompression gas, in order to simplify decompression, and keep him in close proximity to the CD.

Diver Tenders

The Dive Tenders (DT) will be responsible for the proper setup and breakdown of the dive station, as well as suiting up the divers and tending divers while in the water. While diving operations are underway, there will be one qualified DT for each umbilical in the water. During this time, the DT will remain on the diver’s umbilical, ready to follow commands from the DS as to adjustments of the umbilical.

Hot Water Machine Operator

The Hot Water Machine Operator (HWMO) will operate the machinery supplying hot water to the divers. Direction as to any changes in water flow, and temperature, will be given by the DS, and any issues preventing consistent hot water flow to the divers will be relayed immediately to the DS, who will in turn supply relevant information to the divers.

Crane Operator

The Crane Operator (CO)will follow directions from the DS or any person he specifically designates to provide signals to the CO. Only one person will provide hand signals to the CO. At all times, the CO will operate the crane slowly, as directed.

John
I also watched the show.
I do have a solution to the 10 X visual problem.
I have been trying to contact Rick, Marty and several others, with no luck.
Is there any way you can contact them to call me, or email me for the answer ?
I would love to see you go back down there and see everything.
Also to show us what's there.
I also think they or you can get the cutting head and drill bit out of there by attaching a cable around the top portion of it and pulling it up and out.
Thanks
Jay

Absolutely loved watching your dive at 10x. Never dived or anything like that but was really excited and my heart was in my mouth the whole time. Can't wait to see what you found at the bottom ( we are a bit behind in the UK!). Will look for your other dives on History Channel- I hope your dives are really rewarding it must be wonderful to get to see what no one else sees, but for me I will enjoy it from my chair!

Hi John,have been diving since 1975,my daughter bought shadow diver for me at Christmas,wow I could not put it down,have been following oak island for years,my daughter lives close to it in nova scotia,then to see you on oak island was amazing,you are my hero,keep up the good workJohn!

Hello John,
Wondering if anyone contacted you about those stranded Boys in Thailand ? I can tell by seeing how much of a Professional you are that you may be needed to give some input or help in the rescue itself. I have to say sir you are by far one of the best divers I have ever seen. Your input would be well needed I am sure. Thanks for being so safe and showing people taking proper precautions are how it gets done the right way. If there is anything you can do to help sir Please do.

July 8, 2018

John Chatterton

When you have a plumbing problem, call a plumber. The reason the rescue of the Thai kids was so successful, was because they worked with some of the worlds best cave divers.

John can you post an unedited video of your dive into 10X or at least post a narrative version on your website like your other ones? It would be great to see without all the interruptions. Thanks from your friends at Diver's Cove, Essex, CT. Also 2.3 minutes into the History Channel video I observed a 2-3 white fiber floating in the water. Is that from your rope or a coconut, lol.

As a professional diver, when I am working for a client any video or photos from the dive are going to be their property unless otherwise agreed upon. All the video from 10X belongs to the History Channel and the Lagina's. I put a white 1/4" weighted down line from the bottom of the caisson ladder to the bottom of the chamber. I assume that is what you saw in the video?

Hi, John! Loved your work on Oak Island. Did you see any particular or unusual feel of the ground when you landed on the bottom of the Shaft?
Also, great work on the informations on this dive, very informative!
All the best, cheers!
- C. Perez

Hi, John. I was glad to see the Oak Island folks finally made their way to you after so many failed attempts to get a diver into 10X--no offense intended to any of the previous divers. You did a phenomenal job and the information you obtained while in the "chamber" definitely helped shine a new light on what is--or, in this case, is not down there.
Again, congratulations on doing a great job tackling a very tough dive!

I thought your dive on 10X was amazing. Great TV! Within your professional experience and personal experiences if I could ask you a humble question.
On a scale of 0 to 100, what % chance do you think there is still a treasure or something significant still left on Oak Island?

Good question. I have been reading about Oak Island since I was a kid. I believe that there is something, or at least was something, valuable deposited on Oak Island. I am 100% sure that there is nothing of value at the bottom of 10X.
JC

Hey John, love your work and the books are a great read! You've inspired me to go from Rec to Tec. Still working at it.. speaking of TV shows, any idea if Deep Sea Detectives will once again become a reality? You and Ritchie Kohler were like the Caped Crusaders, but with tanks and regs. Prost!

Why not dive it in a sidemount rig, steel 72's or LP45's on trimix and some bailouts, with a gopro... Squeeze into the krags.without wrecking the vis? Instead of kirby, huge umbilical to tangle, klunky gear. I know topside/TV.wants to talk, and it's a cold dive for sure. But a drysuit and less bottom time, might disturb less silt and capture better vids. Not have to wrangle cumbersome lines. I'm thinking sidemount cave diver rig. Thoughts?
Comment:
Friends help you.
Good Friends help you move.
Great Friends help you move bodies.
Recovery Divers help u move bodies underwater.

Well, there is typically not just one right way, or one wrong way, to accomplish something. In the case of 10X, diving the site using Surface Supplied gear offers significant advantages, IMHO. The KM37SS is not as "klunky" as you might think, and the umbilical is neutrally buoyant, so I do not see much in the way of disadvantage for an experienced hardhat diver. But the helmet protects the diver's head, keeps him in communication with the surface, keeps the diver warm, is streamlined, and the the umbilical always leads to the surface. I considered SM, and in retrospect I probably could have done it that way, but I do not think I would have been nearly as productive. On scuba, the diver is a machine. On hardhat, the diver is a cog in a greater machine. In general, surface support makes divers more productive.
JC

John, huge admirer of your work here. Your discovery of the missing hull sections of the Titanic, pretty much solved the theory that she broke at the surface. I have 2 questions. On the Oak Island show you stated that you have dived valves and pipelines, could you elaborate on that a little?
The Lagina's, have just punched through to a void up by the money pit, would you consider diving that site should they decide to put someone down hole?

Hey Gary,
Thanks for the nice compliments. I worked for 20 years as a commercial diver in and around the City of New York. Over that time I had a lot of different jobs working on bridges, conventional power plants, nuclear plants, piers, pipelines, bulkheads, submarine cables, salvage, and a host of other awesome projects, and maybe a few totally screwed up ones too?
Anyway, penetration dives, such as diving a pipe, involved penetration pay for the additional risk to life and limb, which was something like $1 a foot at the time, as I recall. So, if for example we had to inspect or repair 400' of 30" water intake, like in Battery Park City, I could collect my regular Union pay, on top of that collect Penetration Pay, somehow save the client big money, and have fun, all at the same time!!! I could then take that money and use it for wreck diving!!! Jajajajaja
We will be back at Oak Island in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned. I love Oak Island and working with those guys!!
Cheers
JC

Dear John. Actualy I am from South Africa and my english is poor. What i want to know is according to the Oak Island series you dived before to shipwrecks namely the Britanica ..and the Titanic....Did you really dive the Titanic?

Hey Carol,
Your English is fine. For a time, the White Star Liners named their ships ending in "ic", as in Majestic, Baltic, Britannic, and Titanic. I dived the Britannic using rebreathers, an Aura CCR2000 in 1998, and an AP Valves Evolution in 2006. For the Titanic, we used the Russian Research Ship Keldysh, and the MIR I and MIR II submersibles. Britannic is roughly 400 feet deep, and Titanic about 12,500 feet deep.
Cheers
JC

You're a bad a$$. I've only seen the work you've done on Oak Island, but I've read about other things you've done & they sound awesome. Can't wait to see what you discover back on Oak Island. Stay safe.

Heya John, just want to say well done on that dive. I did not really like what Blakenship said about your dive. He did say something that seemed a bit sour about you. In my opinion, your dives went well, your experience is pretty top notch, having dived a bunch of different locations. On another note, reading back on the other comments, I am glad that the Brothers are going to have you back with them on future dives. Keep up the good work, and keep coming back up from your dives. Like your late friend Bill Nagle once said, "No one will ever find your body..." See you around some time.

Jajajaja Thanks for the chuckle!!
Commercial divers go places that their clients cannot, and then we have to tell them what we find. Sometimes what we have to say to clients, is not what they want to hear. It is human nature, I understand, and it is just part of the job.
Cheers

John, it has been exciting watching you dive on 10x on Oak Island. You are so calm and professional when you dive. It makes it interesting to watch and curious about what you'll find.. I am really looking forward to your next dive. Cheers!!

Hey John. its pretty obvious that the large cavity in 10x was simply created from blasting a 3 foot cavity to a much larger size using explosives.
http://www.oakislandcompendium.ca/blockhouse-blog/10x-some-inconvenient-facts
1. Were you aware of this particular history of 10x prior to diving?
2. That being said, some of the Oak Island team STILL do not believe it's a man made cavity and that there is treasure down there. My question is - in your experience - is the cavity structurally sound enough to drain it dry with pumps and have the oak island team walk on the bottom, rubber boots and all, to prove to themselves there is nothing down there?

Hey Chad,
I had not read that document prior to now, but nothing there was shocking.
The Chamber in 10X had a sold rock roof. It was a single slab, as near as I could tell. The walls or sides were gravel and clay shaped like an inverted bell. The locals up there call it blue clay. In some places it was so soft, I could dig chunks out with my bare hands, like in the area of the "Tunnels". In other places, the gravel and clay was so hard, I would need my knife to dig a piece out. It was very much stratified or layered. On the bottom, it was basically the same material as the sides but with some silt added. In one corner of the bottom, there appears to be a sink.
I am a diver, not a geologist, but it appears to me that the Chamber was created by soft gravel and clay dropping down through the sink, into some sort of space below, of unknown dimensions. I do not think you could pump the hole dry, because water would come up from below at the very least. It is tidal, and brackish. If it is part of a greater aquifer, there is no way you could pump it dry, and if you could possibly pump that fast, you have 200 feet of water pressure above the Chamber pushing in. IMHO, it is impossible to dewater, and the formation is natural.
Cheers
JC

Hello John,
Like the rest of "fans" that enjoy the show I am on the edge of my seat to see what the rest of the season reveals.
My question regarding the Money Pit dives -
Assuming of course objects of interest are found and need recovery and given the fact it looks like there may be a shaft
or tunnel to the cavern you are investigating, is it possible for your dive team to develop extraction plans that would be workable in that environment or would further drilling be required by the Oak Island Group?
It seems significant recovery work would be most challenging. I really hope that the brothers and investors are rewarded
with a significant historical find. While not professional archeologists I think the group has done a remarkable job protecting
the sanctity of the Island and respecting all those that have been involved in the history there.
Obviously I am sure your team would love to have the additional work if significant finds are uncovered. Being in the pipe business myself I rather suspect it is a bit more fun and interesting working on the Oak Island Mystery than say a clogged intake at a power plant!
Well - wishing you and the whole Oak Island team safety and success!

Hi John!! My husband watches the Oak Island show religiously and being an employee of a commercial dive business, this episode was especially interesting to me. As I was watching, I noticed that our dive chamber was actually used for the show - very exciting stuff! I've learned so much by watching the show and reading your blog - stuff I probably should already know. =) I would be honored if I could send you a shirt and hat - just let me know where to send it. Thanks and I look forward to your next dive!

Hey Ashley, Thanks for the nice comments, and the generous offer. It is always my goal to not use the chamber unless we are doing Surface O2 Deco!! Shoot me an email, and I will send you my address.
Cheers
JC

I have watched your work over the years and am simply in awe of the amazing work you have done and the dives you have made. Just simply awesome, thanks so much for enabling us to look inside your amazing world and sharing that world with us all. Be safe, love ya man. Cheers.Sincerely, Kara Hunter-Oden.

Great work and very enjoyable to watch. People don't really understand how technically challenging these dives are and you guys make it look easy!! My understanding is that the bore hole hole you dived is the one from the supposed concrete covered timber treasure chamber......I wonder how you found no timbers or other such material in the chamber even though it was being pulled out by the "giant claw thing". It seems they thought they had struck an edge of this timber lined chamber from previous episodes.

Hey Alejandro, Thanks for the nice comments. I can tell you what we found, because I am the diver. Aside from trying to make it look easy, I have to be objective, and honest. As to why I found what I found, that is pure conjecture and I am not the best person to answer that.
Cheers
JC

Good morning John, Safety, please take a moment to read!
YOU ARE THE REAL DEAL!!! The courage it takes to do the types of dives you do is amazing. I am not claustrophobic however I could clearly not do what you do for a living! Being that said I have a concern for your well being. I will post it on the History channel however I don't know if it will be related to you. I feel this is the best way to convey my message. Say hello to the crew. I have sent letters of all of the men Marty, Rick Dan and Craig however I don't know if they were ever delivered to them I would assume they get a ton of mail. ANY Way here it is.
HISTORY CHANEL PLEASE READ THIS COMMENT AND PASS IT ON TO THE SAFETY CREW ON OAK ISLAND!!! This is a safety concern I see when the guys are doing their dives. You have the human factor guiding and resting the life lines down to the diver over the sharp edge of the metal casing that you sunk in the ground. People make mistakes all the time. FIRST, for $20.00 you can by a (TWO OR THREE FEET) piece of heavy duty rubber tubing. About three to six inches in diameter will do it. Cut it length wise an open it up and slide it over the edge of the pipe tube to prevent the line from chafing on the sharp edge. Any high pressure line should do it! This is not to guide the life lines over but to keep a buffer in the event the guide man loses control of the lines and compromises the life lines. Compromise the life line you lose the diver!!!. Second! I hope you are keeping the exhaust (Carbon Monoxide) well away from the piping shaft or you could end up with the situations that took the farther and son on the island. I have two friends that lost their lives in a well many years ago to the same scenario! That should do it for now. God speed and be safe on your future journeys! Believe!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Leo,
Thanks for the nice post, and the concern, but let me assure you that we do everything possible not just to assure the safety of the diver, but the entire crew. Like any heavy construction project, there is a lot going on and everyone has to know what they are doing. The umbilical we use is kink and abrasion resistant,and our diver breathing gases are bottled so there is no chance of CO poisoning. Commercial diving is inherently dangerous and all diving professionals realize that we have to work at managing the risks.
Thanks again

To the team, I have seen some of the stupid comments on the net about the oak island project. However, I see it as your field of Dreams. I watch each episode of oak island and cannot wait for the next. Your diving is beyond anything I would ever understand but even to the novice you make a very complex dive into terms that we can understand. The amount of safety you use is great. I have never watched any shows where there is a good chance of someone getting hurt or worse. Please never take a risk to satisfy the public. I flew air shows and saw a good number of pilots who were friends hurt and killed to satisfy the crowed. The just wanted more. So thank you entertaining us in a safe manner. I am a 100% disabled Veteran and spent my time in a very bad place but you have really hung it all out on 10X
Regards
Dave

John, I don't get to watch H2 but on a recent trip to Europe watched parts of Oak Island/Pirates and the Templars etc. Let me say as an ex-diver and instructor congratulations on your diving achievements particularly Oak Island. I have been writing/researching/lecturing on buried treasures for a long time, my last book 'Anson's Gold and the Secret to Captain Kidd's Charts' took over 11 years of research and a big chapter is devoted to Oak Island. I am very confident when I say "No treasure will ever be found at Oak Island!" If only people would think about it from a common sense practical point of view> 200 years ago> a hole 200 ft deep- come on!! As an intelligent man I would be interested to know your honest opinion. As a final comment I would ask those involved to take a close look at Freemasonry, they could be in for a big surprise!
Keep safe.
Incidently, your Aquascan detector was made by on old diving friend of mine Bob Williams, retired now to Cornwall, but his company is still going, visited him last year

My honest opinion is that Oak Island is a mystery. I do not know if there is treasure, or whether the treasure of Oak Island is gold, or something purely intrinsic, inherent, or instrumental? Regardless of what your opinion might be, the proof will only come when the mystery is solved.
I love the Aquascan Pulse detectors! It is a fine piece of kit.
JC

Hey John,
Just wanted to say I enjoyed watching your dives and appreciate the planning that goes into something like this. I thought you and your team brought a sense of confidence, especially in regards to 10X. Good job and hopefully we see more of you and your team!

Read Shadow Divers years ago was amazed at the persistance and courage of all divers but the story of yourself, Bill Nagle and Rich Kohler in that great adventure really captured the imagination. As a kid had always heard stories of Oak Island and after seeing the difficulty of the first dive attempts on the show was happy to see your efforts and success. Look forward to seeing some more dives there? Stay safe.

HI John,
What would have been your thoughts if, in the 10x dive, you would have found the Ark of the Covenant at the bottom of 10x & be the first person in thousands of years to see it & have you ever been terrified for your life in a dive ?

I have been startled, or even surprised on many dives, but never terrified of losing my life.
Had we discovered something amazing at the bottom of 10X, I would have thought I was the luckiest diver in the world!! But I think that already. lol
JC

Hello! My Husband and I are senior citizens living in Florida. We have our DVR set to record every Oak Island episode, old or new! Your dive was one of the most exciting episodes ever. Having lived in the Florida keys amongst many divers, the Mel Fisher Museum, etc, we have always been very interested and captivated by diving. We lived in the Keys when Mr. Fisher passed away. We have met his daughter in Key West.
We have never 'taken the plunge' ourselves, so you have our utmost respect. We are curious about the cost of such a dive. Can you give us a ball park amount of what one could expect to be charged if we were to hire an expert diver for such a dive? I hope this question is not a faux pas.
We LOVE this show! We can hardly wait for the next episode!
Thank you so much!

Thank you for the very nice comments. So long as you are healthy, age alone should not be a barrier to diving! There is a program called "Discover Diving", which may be called by a variety of names, but essentially you have some class time, some pool time, and an open water dive or two. It all happens in a single day, and you can find out about it by inquiring with your local dive shop, or the dive shop at the location where you want to dive. Check out online reviews to help you find someone that you think you will want to take you diving. Cost is $150-$250?

I believe the last question was an inquiry into what it would cost to hire a diver to do a dive similar to the Oak Island dives.
I watch every show and couldn't believe that a human would do what you and your divers did! You and your team are a VERY RARE group of individuals and have every ounce of respect I could possibly muster up!
Stay safe and thank you for such a detailed report on the dive preparation.

John, please add me to the very long list of your admirers. First, thank you for posting your preparations for such a dive. It was a real eye opener for me. Very impressive and professional, as I'm sure it would be with your life on the line. I just got finished watching for the third time the episodes containing your dive. I'm still on the edge of my seat while you are down there. I have a question for you and the answer is probably obvious. I suffer from a touch of claustrophobia and was wondering if that ever affects you at all? If so, how do you manage to keep it under control. I'm definitely hoping your time on the island is not over and we will see you back again. Skol.

Fun watching you work. I came close to meeting you back in the 80's. Evelyn Dudas was a friend of mine. She held you in high regard. I've done some open water scuba and respect what you do. I remember the escape tank in submarine school and I can handle that kind of confinement but it still creeps me out a little. Wreck diving is where the fun's at eh?
Ron

John, you have nerves of steel and balls of titanium! WOW! I love the Oak Island show for obvious reasons, but the most exhilarating and gut-wrenching episodes (by far) were those covering your dives. I’m only a recreational diver (with Advanced cert) so I have so much respect for what you do for a living. The amount of guts it takes to go into the confined places you go is amazing! Your jaw-dropping dive to 10X was recently brought to mind when two of my co-workers (both experienced) were diving a cave system here in Florida. Unfortunately, one of them had a catastrophic medical emergency while at depth and sadly passed away underwater. He was only 53. This incident reminded me just how dangerous what you do really is. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. I hope to see you diving again on Oak Island. God bless and be safe down there.

Jajajaja Thanks for the nice post. In confined spaces like 10-X, caves, wrecks, mines and such, all divers are extremely vulnerable. So, the best approach IMHO, is to be extraordinarily prepared to minimize the inherent stress and thereby minimize the risk of any sort of event. I like diving with a minimal amount of drama, and just watching the plan come together.
JC

John, they really made me think there was something in 10X before you went down there and found the truth. Thanks for clearing that up! There have been a few more holes dug on Oak Island since your 10X Dive. Have you been contacted to go down the DMT shaft? Or are you done with Oak Island and if so, why? Thanks.

I love Oak Island, and think the world of the guys. I have been up there for 10X, and for Charles 1. If those guys need me, I will always make myself available, but I am just the diver. The are the ones doing all the heavy listing.
JC

Very professional work. These boys are such a good fit in this project. I watched the 3/6 finale and was impressed with the young man who relayed messages to the diver and those outside. He did such a good job. He looks so much like a Lagina...is that my imagination?

Hey John,
Big fan.. On a list of "anybody" I'd like to meet. You would make the list! Ex Navy Diver and Sub Sailor. Now resigned to recreation diving only. Your professionalism and dives are truly something to behold. I admire your work and the honesty in the stories you tell. They will be remembered for generations. You make Jacque Cousteau look like a girl scout!
Thanks for Shadow Diver and other work you do.
Jim Panama City Fl 3/2018

I have been watching the show and on season 3. I don't know if the drill bit has been recovered from the 27 in hole but I was thinking if you haven't retrieved the bit then have u thought about using some kind of claw to pull it out. Something kind of like u would use to grab a bear from a prize game or some kind if high powered magnet like used in a dump.

Hey John, I have only just watched your dive in 10x as blaze are showing it currently. Amazing courage & what a true pro you are. My questions are: are Marty & Rick as nice in person? Would you ever think of diving in the swamp on oak island & my last question relates to Titanic: when you dived did you see any parts of her that have not been seen that we won't ever get to see on film or picture-they say she was magestic did you feel that?

I live in Florida, and they have a capable local diver who can handle all the swamp work. They only use me when they need me, because I live so far away, and that is good with me.
I have been incredibly fortunate to have had all the diving opportunities that have come my way. My dives on Titanic were amazing, but shipwrecks are like people. They are born, and eventually they disappear. Between those two events, they age and change. Titanic was beautiful when we met, and exceeded any expectations I might have had.
JC

good afternoon john, 10-10-2019. i live in brisbane, qld. australia. roy ludlow. 81yrs. read about oak is. in 1965 readers digest. collected reports over the years. then silence for a long time till 'the curse' aired here just lately, followed it for a while but a little voice kept saying 'its not up to date'. i wondered if the 'curse' is a sham and i found your page.BOY DO I HAVE EGG ON MY FACE, i though the airing was up to date, i wish marty and rick would publish the dates of the showings. JOHN you dived into the chamber and found nothing, as i have read, after all these years and reading all the local news on the island i find it was over in 2016. John i ask 'what was the state of the iron casing in after the years of rusting? did you remove all the metal piping and ladder b4 diving? i see you dived in a round cage with an open to step out into the water, when is the metal cage rick is using with the male and female divers? would the casing cave in from ground pressure if water was pumped out? i thought of lining the casing with concrete water mains a bit smaller than the casing. there would be a big cave in if that happened, two many ?s, its all over now. thank you for your honesty on your page. roy

Hey Roy,
The Big Casing on 10X is in pretty good shape. I think the water is a little brackish, and there was some surface rust, but the steel was structurally sound as near as I could tell. I went into the Big Casing with the Cage, and Rick and Marty had some divers in there prior to my arrival to clean out some of the debris. In the 28" Drill pipe, it was without the cage, as it was tight enough anyway. The cage was very effective for Decompression.
JC

Hey John,
Also from Queensland Australia! My Dad (who use to dive) and I just watched your dive into 10x (Australian’s must be so far behind in the series). Honestly, you really impressed us with your quiet confidence and razor like focus to the job, we had to pause the show just to discuss how amazed we were! Now from what I’ve read about your other dives, I see you’re an even more incredible human.
Just curious if you ever do recreational diving? Have you or would you like to dive the Great Barrier Reef here in Aus?
Also, with the drill bit in 10x were you close to calling the dive while squeezing around it? Or was that just the show sensationalising the drama? Dad was very worried for you in that pipe! Haha.
Thank you so much for your work, you’re an inspiration to many people!
Hope to see more of you and your work mate! :)

Hey Jamaal,
I do recreational diving, technical diving, and technical training as often as I can. I have dived around Sydney, but never the Great Barrier Reef. Perhaps one day. So many dives, so little time.
IMHO, underwater environments can be incredibly intimidating. If you are going to get anything done you cannot be intimidated, and you have to have it all wired. If you sound calm and cool, psychologically you benefit. It is the only way I know to get jobs like Oak Island done?
In 10X, the lower pipe casing was 28" in diameter. It was divided by what was thought to be a 6' drill pipe, and how much it blocked the casing was unknown until I got there. The worst case scenario, was for the 6' pipe to bisect the middle of the 28" pipe, leaving only 11" on each side. The pipe drop was unknown. It was tight, and typically with so many unknowns, you don't know if you can do it until you get there.
If you did not see it, here is the dive plan we went there with. https://www.johnchatterton.com/project-files/oak-island-10-x-dive/
JC

JC
Cool, Calm and collective mate, that’s why you’re alive, class act. I hope your profession is as lucrative as it is exciting and fun.
Now 10x has been explored I’ve no clue why they don’t drain the H2o and get it over with. More $$ than sense maybe.
I’d presume lots of the places yourself and colleagues have descended to have had less visitors than the moon, would be fun to know that. Live long friend